IMAGINE IF THE FUNERAL SERVICE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II WAS HELD AT THE ASSUMPTA CATHEDRAL, OWERRI, IMO STATE.

The dignitaries will come to the event late, especially political office holders.

The Bishop's sermon will be intermittently disrupted as extinguished and dishonorable office holders, sorry, distinguished, and honourable politicians will stroll in to take the front pews.

The Bishop will have a herculean task to maintain protocol and call out the names of the dignitaries and proxy representatives without incurring the repercussions associated with the cardinal sin of omitting the earned and borrowed titles.

The security details and other aides of the 'constituted authority' will block the views of other guests and mourners seated behind as they exhibit sycophantic traits of allegiance.

The funeral service will provide opportunities for the church to raise funds and or use the pulpit to settle political and religious scores.

There are likely to be disagreements on who should be allowed to speak and in the order of speaking in the church.

In dramatic and sensational ways, the funeral event will turn the church more into a political rally than a worship centre.

The altar boys at the church would have to wrestle the protocol team of the government from mounting the podium bearing the official seals.

The delivery of the vote of thanks will likely elicit another controversy between the supporters of the government claiming it was a State funeral and the members of the deceased queen's family.

The side-chicks of Prince William and Harry, and other government officials will dress as protocol staff or escorts to have access to them even in somber moments of worship.

There will be different screaming colors and designs of 'asoebi', head gears, and hats. The newest models of iPhone and Android will be on display with intermittent loud ring-outs.

The pen merchants and television crew members at the event will seek gratification to publish and broadcast names and images of guests in their reportage.

In all of the vanity, many will forget the admonition in Ecclesiastes 7:2-4
"It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth" (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4).

May the souls of the departed rest in peace ✌️

Chidiebere Heavens Agwunobi Esq.